Two Kinston restaurants robbed Sunday (with video)

Published: Monday, January 13, 2014 at 07:49 AM.

Photo Galleries

After two armed robberies Sunday, the word most uttered by those affected is “scared.”

Around 5:33 p.m., officers with the Kinston Department of Public Safety responded to a report of an armed robbery at the Wok-N-Roll restaurant on North Herritage Street.

The investigation and surveillance footage revealed two black males were involved — one wearing a blue bandanna on his head, and the other wearing a red cap and a blue jacket. The suspect in the red cap pulled out a handgun and demanded all of the cash from the register.

The suspects left with an undisclosed amount of cash and a customer’s wallet, but no one was injured.

Staff at the restaurant Monday said the woman working the cash register is too scared by the events of that evening and another hold-up at the location Dec. 3 to return to work at present.

Around 6:45 p.m., Sunday, officers responded to an armed robbery at King’s Restaurant on U.S. 70. The gunman involved bore a similar description to the one at Wok-N-Roll. An undisclosed amount of money was taken in that incident.

After two armed robberies Sunday, the word most uttered by those affected is “scared.”

Around 5:33 p.m., officers with the Kinston Department of Public Safety responded to a report of an armed robbery at the Wok-N-Roll restaurant on North Herritage Street.

The investigation and surveillance footage revealed two black males were involved — one wearing a blue bandanna on his head, and the other wearing a red cap and a blue jacket. The suspect in the red cap pulled out a handgun and demanded all of the cash from the register.

The suspects left with an undisclosed amount of cash and a customer’s wallet, but no one was injured.

Staff at the restaurant Monday said the woman working the cash register is too scared by the events of that evening and another hold-up at the location Dec. 3 to return to work at present.

Around 6:45 p.m., Sunday, officers responded to an armed robbery at King’s Restaurant on U.S. 70. The gunman involved bore a similar description to the one at Wok-N-Roll. An undisclosed amount of money was taken in that incident.

King’s Restaurant owner Joe Hargitt said staff anticipates being robbed, and it makes regular cash drops to be sure there’s not an excess amount of cash in the registers.

“We were worried it was going to happen to begin with,” Hargitt said. “We don’t have a lot of money in the cash registers, and that’s the easiest deterrent, is when they come in here and they rob you, and they don’t get but a couple hundred bucks, then maybe they won’t rob you again.

“I mean, it’s not worth it to come in here, walk around with a loaded gun and only get $100, $200 at a time. It’s just not worth it.”

Swayze Greenup worked the register that night, but she was back at work Monday. She said she was scared during the robbery, but didn’t have a problem returning to work because it couldn’t be predicted when something may or may not happen.

“We can get robbed anytime, or I can get robbed walking around the place,” Greenup said.

KDPS investigators are looking into whether the incidents are related.

Anyone with information on the robberies is encouraged to call KDPS Cmdr. Tim Dilday at 252-939-3213 or the TIPS line at 252-939-4020.

Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-939-1075 and WesWolfe@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @WolfeReports.

CLICK HERE to view video of the two suspects entering the Wok N Roll restaurant.

The Kinston Dept. of Public Safety is expected to release futher details before 9 a.m. on Monday.

(8:40 a.m.) From Woody Spencer of the KDPS:

" The Wok N Roll call came in at 5:33 p.m.; King's on U.S. 70 call came in at 6:48 p.m. No injuries at either location. The suspects are two black males. One was wearing a red ball cap and the other was wearing a blue bandana. At King's, a witness said one suspect was wearing a blue jacket and red ball cap. In both instances, one suspect armed with hand gun."

Spencer also said investigators are currently trying to determine if the incidents are related.

(10:53 a.m.) Press release from the KDPS:

On Sunday around 5:33 p.m., members of the Kinston Dept. of Public Safety responded to an armed robbery call at the Wok-N-Roll Restaurant on 2424 North Herritage St., Kinston. Upon arrival officers were told two black males, one wearing a red ball cap, the other a blue bandanna, entered the business. The subject wearing the red ball cap pointed a handgun at the clerk and demanded her to open the register. The other subject then removed an undisclosed amount of cash from the register. A customer was also robbed of his wallet. No one was injured during this incident.

On Sunday around 6:48 p.m., members of the Kinston Dept. of Public Safety responded to an armed robbery call at King's Restaurant on U.S. 70 East, Kinston. Upon arrival, officers were told two black males entered the business. One subject was wearing a blue jacket and red ball cap. One subject was armed with a handgun. An undisclosed amount of cash was taken during the robbery. No one was injured during the incident.

These incidents are still under investigation.

Investigators are looking into the possibility of these two incidents being related.